Sunday, July 15, 2012

John MacArthur has always been a favorite of mine and this book is no exception. This book has been in print continually since 1983. I can see why. It is excellent.

We were created to Worship.

Every night, along with his prayers, I ask my son - "What is the chief end of man?" He answers, "To glorify God and enjoy him forever". God deserves worship. We glorify him when we worship and give Him praise.

Isn't it selfish and arrogant that God would command us to worship Him? No, God is the only being that deserves worship. Unlike creatures, He is the creator of the universe and deserves worship. Does the potter not have control over the clay?

MacArthur shows us who God is and what worship looks like. Today, the church settles for gimmicks and showmanship. They desire to get new people in, so they resort to entertainment. Worship should be us focusing on God and him only.

John takes us through the conversation that Jesus had with the woman at the well. She asked where the correct place to worship was. Jesus answers her - we are to worship in "Spirit and Truth", Not in a certain place.

John shows us that God not only wants us to worship with our emotions, but he wants us to understand the God we are worshiping with our mind. When you do not know the truth about who God is, you are worshiping a God of your own imagination.

As always, MacArthur takes a deep subject and makes it accessible to the average Christian.

I highly recommend this book!

*This book was given free of charge by Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

This is one of those books everyone should read. If you have talked with me for more than 10 minutes about politics, you know where I stand. Being a Christian, many things are a given.

This book is written by an African American Christian women. She knows what it is like to be all three and she knows her stuff.

This book has two parts.

The first is a list of things that liberals use to dupe people into voting for them. With Liberals, it has really become a game of bait and switch.

They say they are for the poor, but their policies create more poverty. They say they are for minorities, but they keep a boot on the same. They say they are for women, just not the conservative ones. They say they are for African Americans, just not Clarance Thomas, Colin Powell, Herman Cain, JC Watts, Alan Keyes, or Condoleezza Rice. If a republican did or said the same things the liberals do, they would be destroyed in the liberal media.

As a Christian, I believe we should help those in need. I believe all races are created equal. I believe women and men should have the same rights. I believe all people are of the same blood no matter what their color.

The problem with the liberal agenda is they only believe these things on the surface. They believe in helping the poor, but only by taking money from others by force. Very seldom do they use their own money. Then they call you selfish because you don't enjoy taxes. They believe in equality of results not of opportunity. If one person works hard and another doesn't even look for a job, both should make an equal living. They believe women have a right to choose an abortion, but not to choose a school for their children or to choose to stay at home with them. They believe the criminal has more rights than the victim (or the victim's family, because the victim is dead). They believe you don't need an ID to vote, but you do to cash a check (and to enter an Obama speech).

The second part of the book shows the history of both the Republicans and Democrats.

The Democrats would have you believe that they are the party of Civil Rights. They are not and never have been.

Democrats would have you believe that Abraham Lincoln was a Democrat and Davis was a republican. Lincoln was a Republican and Jefferson Davis was a Democrat. Republicans ended slavery and added the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the constitution, giving women and African Americans rights as citizens and the right to vote. Guess which party voted against these amendments = Democrats.

What party was the first head of the NAACP from? = Republican

What was Martin Luther King Jr.? = Republican

What party were the first Blacks in congress? = Republicans

Did you know which party started the KKK? = Democrats!

What party was former KKK member congressman Robert Byrd from = Democrat.

Democrats also started Gun control to keep guns out of the hands of southern blacks to keep them from rebelling against the racism being perpetrated by democrats.

During "Bloody Sunday" it was a Democrat Sheriff who attacked protestors in Selma Alabama

If this all sounds to crazy to be true, all you have to do is a small amount of research.

Check out http://www.nbra.info/DYK-HistoryTest

The liberals have Bamboozled people into believing the very opposite of reality. They have done this too long. Christian conservatives have the truth behind them. God loves his people. God says if we humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and pray, he will heal our land.

As Christians, we should stand up against the lies and distortions that come from the left. We are to proclaim all people are equal in our eyes and the eyes of God. God calls us to take the higher road and speak truth in all situations. Truth must the goal in all debate.

This is a hard book to review. I really enjoyed the book, but disagreed with the premise. It deserves 5 stars for interest and readability, but 1 star for polemics. I settled on 2.The book consists of story after story about how controlling and manipulative people wreak havoc upon the church. If you have been in church for any amount of time, you will understand this. Sampson claims that these people are controlled by a Jezebel spirit.

I am a musician and singer and have lead worship for a half dozen churches throughout my Christian walk. The Music department is a place where people tend to show their true natures. Many people FEEL God wants them to sing, whether they have a gift or not. In reality they just want to be SEEN and HEARD. Almost everyone in their life has desired to be rich and famous. How many times on “American Idol” have we seen a person who thought they could sing, then totally bomb, and still do not see it. They want to be famous so bad they will do anything they can to get on stage.

Many times it is the same in church. I have seen a lot of manipulation in the church over the years. "God told me" is used about as frequently as "Praise the lord". People want their way and many times do not care who they step on to get it.

“God told me I was supposed to be on the worship team”. “God told me I was supposed to marry you”. “God told me to leave my wife”. “God told me I was supposed to have the service next Sunday.”

Why have I said all this? The bible says people are born depraved sinners. When we are saved, we receive a new nature, but the bible says we still have to fight the old man. I believe this is where this book fails. We have found the enemy and it is us.

Steve Sampson's whole premise is that a spirit of Jezebel is controlling thousands, maybe millions of people all over the world. I totally disagree.

Yes, spirits and demons are real. Satan is real. But I believe there is no Jezebel spirit per say. At the least, it is not controlling people all over the world. Spirits are not omnipresent. Only God is. Because he is a spirit, the devil is invisible. But he can not be in two places at the same time. Neither can any other being except God.

That said, more than one person could not have a Jezebel spirit at the same time. I am not ruling out that evil spirits do not get involved, but the bible says we sin when we are carried away by our own lusts.

Mostly, this book consists of story after story about people manipulating pastors for their own agenda. The stories ring true, but in some situations you wonder if something is left out.

Proverbs 18:17 NAS says:

The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.

The book is very readable. The stories keep you riveted - I could not put it down. Unfortunately, there was very little exegesis, so he did not prove that there even is a Jezebel spirit. He throws in a couple of scriptures, but never even tries to convince you that what he says is biblical theology.

I can not say I recommend this book to everyone, but if you are very discerning and well versed in biblical theology, it is a good read. Just do not take it too serious.

*I received this book for free from Chosen Books in exchange for an honest review.